The Atlanta Braves announced that they have designated right-handed pitcher Bartolo Colon for assignment after 13 games pitched with them this season. Colon (44) was struggling this year with a 2-8 record and 8.14 ERA in his first year as an Atlanta Brave. He was coming off a surprising all star season last year at the age of 43 with the Mets, boasting a 15-8 record with a 3.43 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP.
Colon's historic career
His last game he pitched with the Braves was his 513th (1st among active players) career start in the majors in the 20 seasons he has played.
The Braves were his 9th different team, which also included the Indians, Angels, White Sox, Yankees, Expos, Red Sox, A's and Mets. Colon was the only active player in 2017 that played with the Montreal Expos before they moved to Washington D.C. in 2005.
Colon broke into the majors with the Cleveland Indians at the age of 24 and pitched to a no-decision against the Angles on April 4th, 1997. His five and a half years in an Indians uniform was the longest he played with one team. With four years with the Angels and three with the Mets, Colon played two years with the White Sox, two with Oakland and one year minimum with the Yankees, Expos, Red Sox and Braves.
Personal awards include, four all-star games (98' 05' 13' 16'), a Cy Young in 2005 with a 21-8 record and 3.48 ERA, and league shut out leader in 2013.
He has appeared in 17 postseason games. He finally hit his first MLB home run on May 7th, 2016 at Petco Park off James Shields. He never won a World Series, but was part of the pennant-winning 2015 New York Mets.
His overall career numbers are as follows: 235-170 record, 4.02 ERA, 3235.1 innings pitched, 2,407 strikeouts and 1.307 WHIP.
What makes him unique
Colon's overall career numbers wise is solid, not Hall of Fame, but solid. With that said it is very impressive how long he played and how he still stayed effective in his 40s. This is a guy who is...rather large and not exactly an athletic type. At 5ft. 10, 285 Colon has managed to use his pitches which top no more than 84 MPH to success by locating well and going for weak contact.
Last year's all star season at age 43 was not the oldest to play but among the oldest and still impressive; Colon has two of his four all star honors at age 40 or above. There is also something to be said about his durability, in his career he had eight 200+ inning seasons and eleven 190+ inning seasons; 213.0 inning average per 162 games.
Other unique facts? He is the only MLB player to record a hit at 40+ years old and recorded at 250+ pounds. He also broke the record for consecutive scoreless innings (31) by a pitcher 42 or older in 2015. These are all pretty obscure facts but fun to talk about nonetheless.
In his MLB debut, Bartolo Colon faced Eddie Murray (born 1956). In what could be his last MLB game, he faced Manny Margot (born 1994).
— Andrew Simon (@AndrewSimonMLB) June 29, 2017
Is this finally the end?
At 44 years old many wonder if this will be it for Colon.
Really struggling this year and of course...he is 44 years old! While there is talk about him going with one last stint with the Mets, it may just make sense for him to finally hang it up. He will go down as a memorable player that was very entertaining for all baseball fans and a player who had a nice career. Like mentioned, he does not have Hall of Fame numbers but he certainly will be remembered for a while.
Mets have not ruled out the possibility of a reunion with Bartolo Colon once he clears waivers, but his 8 ERA obviously gives them pause.
— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) June 29, 2017
